Witches
The three witches that come out in Macbeth are exactly like in our imagination. These witches must be full of incantations and spells making them violent and corrupt. In the first page, the witches talk about how one of them killed the wife of a sailor. This shows the cruel deeds that they do but also the reaction shows that they do not care and take is a normal routine. They also see the future which adds on to their mystical powers. They also control natural elements such as the wind making it easier for them to disappear.
Macbeth
Macbeth is a male thane who has just recently gained much fame. He is also expected to become the king when there are other candidates for the throne. He seems to have helped vanquish some kind of rebellion which cast out the only heir to the throne and made him the runner up. He seems to be noble and kind since he refuses the place and tries not to be selfish. He seems to be more of a warrior than a king.
Banquo
Banquo seems to be the kind of character that is beside the main character and tries to get power and money at the first chance. He seems to be quite hostile and tries to please Macbeth in case he becomes king. Banquo has a relatively small portion in this section but he seems to be a secondary character who might have an important role in the future.
Ross
Ross must be one of the messenger pairs. He seems to be sent from the thane to give thanks to Macbeth who fought alongside him. Ross seems to be very respectful and looks up to Macbeth a lot. Obviously, Ross admires Macbeth and thinks that he was a hero in the battle that was fought. He thinks that Macbeth is worthy and bestows him the title of thane of Cawdor.
Angus
Angus is the other messenger in the pair. He has very few parts in this section that shows very little of him. He seems to be a very serious and calm person who sees reason through the words. He is very straightforward and states his business as soon as possible. He also states the fact about the thane that might be executed due to his treason.
Major Plot
Three witches have killed a sailor's wife due to insults
Macbeth and Banquo receive their futures which are exact opposites
The witches leave leaving the two confused
Ross and Angus inform Macbeth that he became the thane of Cawdor
Conflict
Many conflicts are foreshadowed by the text. There seems that there will be conflicts as Macbeth will rise to power and king. Banquo might be the opposing side trying to defy fate and overcome the prophesy that the witches foretold.
Assignment 2
What do we learn about Lady Macbeth in these scenes?
We learn that Lady Macbeth is very pleased with the prophecy and wants everything to come true. She is very passionate about Macbeth becoming King and would manipulate others or even him to become the Queen. (1.5.72) It is pretty obvious she is ambitious and passionate but she is also smart since she knows better than to annoy and insult the king when he passes into their house.
How might Lady Macbeth answer the question “What is the meaning of life?” Explain your answer.
Lady Macbeth would answer that the meaning of life was to reach the title or status in which they have the most power and influence. This can be inferred from her ambition and desire to make Macbeth a King. It wouldn't be surprising if she killed Macbeth to become the most powerful person in the kingdom, the Queen herself.
Identify and write out two of Lady Macbeth’s lines that are particularly striking. Explain why you selected the lines.
"All our service In every point twice done, and then double done, were poor and single business to contend." (1.6.16) This line is interesting since she tries to humble her hospitality towards the king but she wants Macbeth to become king himself making this statement ironic. She tries to please the king while also looking for an opportunity.
"Only look up clear. To alter favor ever is to fear. Leave all the rest to me." (1.6.72) I chose this line because it is the start of the conspiracy against the king that the Lady plans. She is obviously smart and discreet and advises against changing countenances since it could betray their real purpose and ruin their chance at being king.
Identify one significant word that Lady Macbeth uses in 1.5 or 1.6, and define both the denotation and connotation of the word. Explain why you think the word is significant.
Masterdom: "Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom" (1.6.70)
Denotation: Dominion, rule, command
Connotation: Dark and tyrannical power over another, specially what the Lady wants
Significance: This word is significant since it foreshadows the following conspiracy and also the lust for power that the Lady has.
Assignment 3
Trial Preparation - "Why has Macbeth decided to kill King Duncan by the end of Act 1?"
Line 1. 3. 50 The witches tell him that he will be king and so he believes fondly that he will be king and sets his mind on it. When he learns that he might not be the next king and his ambition will fail he decides to take action by himself instead of waiting for fate to do it for him.
Line 1. 5. 41 Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to kill the king by using arguments such as becoming a real man or showing him the power he would have if their ambitions are fulfilled. She forcefully convinces Macbeth that it is the only way and that the only consequences were good.
Line 1.6.61 Lady Macbeth convinces that there is no way that the plan might fail and that it is perfect. She convinces that as long as Macbeth sticks to the plan they will succeed in becoming king.
Assignment 4
How does Macbeth react to the killing of Duncan? Why does he react this way?
Line 2.2.68 Macbeth feels huge amounts of guilt and excitement. He is sorry for the act and can't wash away the feeling of guilt that he has. Macbeth seems to regret what he has done and is confused since he does not know where to leave the daggers at. Macbeth seems to be sad and regretful.
How does Lady Macbeth react to the killing of Duncan? Why does she react this way?
Line 2.2.34 Lady Macbeth is very neutral about the murder of Duncan. She seems to think that Duncan was just an obstacle in her dream and it was removed. She seems almost happy that Duncan was murdered and does not even think about a conscience or guilt in her mind. Lady Macbeth seems to be happy and neutral which is the opposite of Macbeth.
Assignment 5
Write a one sentence summary of each scene.
3.1: In the first scene, Macbeth asks about Banquo's plans for the afternoon. After he finds out the details about his adventure, he sends out murderers to kill both Banquo and his son, Fleance.
3.2: Macbeth and Lady Macbeth talk about the murder of Banquo and his son,Fleance, causing them great concern and guilt.
3.3: The murderers attack and are successful in killing Banquo but they fail in murdering Fleance since he flees before anyone could catch him.
3.4: He has a dinner with noble friends in which he receives news about the murders. He also sees the ghost of Banquo in his seat and he loses his mind. Everyone leaves and Macbeth with Lady Macbeth are in a state of agony.
3.5: The three witches meet Hecate, a goddess who could be called their boss. Hecate if furious about what the witches have done with Macbeth.
3.6: The Lord and Macduff talk about their concerns and voice their doubts about Macbeth.
In 3.6, what suspicions does the Lord have about Macbeth?
The Lord is suspicious of what Macbeth has done. The Lord is suspicious of criminal activity since Macbeth wants to cut any strains that could make him lose power. Macbeth even thinks about war because Malcolm is in the English court which makes Lord even more suspicious.
What does Macbeth want in this scene?
Macbeth asks the witches and apparitions questions that would answer his desire. What he wants is power and title but since he already has that due to the witches he wants to know what will be his objectives and enemies that could take his power away from him. His greed has already taken over him and wants a list that he has to kill to keep him in power.
What stands in his way?
Macduff is pointed as the person who stands in his way. But then the third apparition states that whoever that is woman born will not harm him and he relaxes. He thinks that he is invincible since everyone is woman born and the prophecy would protect him from any human that tried to harm him.
How does Macbeth attempt overcome the obstacles in his way?
Macbeth attempts to overcome the obstacles as he did before, with murder. He will murder anyone who stands in his way and also whoever he is close to such as family. Macbeth orders to kill Macduff and his family but only manages to kill the wife and children.
What do the Witches want in this scene?
The witches want to cause pain and mischief to Macbeth though he thinks that they are actually helping him. The witches want to cause mischief since Hecate ordered them in fury since the witches helped Macbeth without her consent so as a punishment Macbeth was to be bothered and pained.
Assignment 6
How has Macbeth transformed by the end of the play?
Macbeth transforms from a valiant soldier and thane who deserves glory to a tyrant and power hungry murderer who would do anything to keep power until he is crazed and loses all sense of reality. The witches were cunning in manipulating and destroying the life of not only Macbeth but also his wife who becomes disillusioned in the end.
"Hang those that talk of fear. Give me mine armor." (Line 5.3.37)
This quote shows how desperate and extreme Macbeth is to keep his throne and power. He is willing to use soldiers that should be used to repel the English forces to control the people. What he fears is that too many people will talk about fear in his kingdom so that they will revolt and strip him of power. He is willing to let down his defenses to stop that from happening showing that his priorities start with power.
"She should have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word" (Line 5.5.17)
Macbeth finally loses all connection to reality as he seems to take in facts as if he were an outsider and uninvolved in the story. He is too self-centered to grieve for his wife who had just passed away. It does not seem to register in his mind that she had died and he had not been help for her even though she did everything for him in the end. Macbeth seems to have died in his mind before Macduff killed him with his mind. The prophecy was in fact true since he had died in his mind before any woman born person had done him harm.
Assignment 7
What is the main idea of the story?
The main idea of the story is change and corruption. The "lesson" or theme that the story is telling is of the consequences that come with power or titles such as kings. Macbeth changes over time has he gains more power starting with becoming Thane of Cawdor and then king. As he became king and tries to keep power for himself he slowly turns into a tyrant and a completely different person from the noble thane in the beginning of the story. He is humble and noble in the beginning, "The Thane of Cawdor lives.Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" (Lines 1. 3. 107) but then he uses murder to keep him in power without a second thought, " It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul's flight, if it find heaven, must find out heaven."(Line 3.2.143)
What can we learn from these characters? Select one or two characters and explain your answer.
We can learn that there could be two outcomes out of power and corruption. Obviously Macbeth grew neutral and detached from the world as he became a tyrant and used his influences to keep him in power. "She should have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word" (Line 5.5.17) Another example of what corruption does would be Lady Macbeth. She is the opposite case since she does not grow detached but her guilt overcomes her and she becomes disillusioned. She has open eyes but with no real vision and walks around purposelessly. "What will these hands ne'er be clean?"(Line 5.1.43)
Do you see recurring images, words, deeds, situations, consequences, mistakes? Select two items from the preceding list and give examples from the play.
There are some recurring words and situations that shape the whole story. The recurring words would be blood and hand since these represent the guilt of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth when they have killed another person. They seem to be unable to wash away the blood thus the guilt from the hand and have to live with the constant torment of it. "What will these hands ne'er be clean?"(Line 5.1.43). The situation is directly relevant to the words. After the use of the word there seems to be inevitable another person that flees from Macbeth and joins to have revenge and bring Macbeth down.
Macbeth Reflection
Table of Contents
Assignment 1
WitchesThe three witches that come out in Macbeth are exactly like in our imagination. These witches must be full of incantations and spells making them violent and corrupt. In the first page, the witches talk about how one of them killed the wife of a sailor. This shows the cruel deeds that they do but also the reaction shows that they do not care and take is a normal routine. They also see the future which adds on to their mystical powers. They also control natural elements such as the wind making it easier for them to disappear.
Macbeth
Macbeth is a male thane who has just recently gained much fame. He is also expected to become the king when there are other candidates for the throne. He seems to have helped vanquish some kind of rebellion which cast out the only heir to the throne and made him the runner up. He seems to be noble and kind since he refuses the place and tries not to be selfish. He seems to be more of a warrior than a king.
Banquo
Banquo seems to be the kind of character that is beside the main character and tries to get power and money at the first chance. He seems to be quite hostile and tries to please Macbeth in case he becomes king. Banquo has a relatively small portion in this section but he seems to be a secondary character who might have an important role in the future.
Ross
Ross must be one of the messenger pairs. He seems to be sent from the thane to give thanks to Macbeth who fought alongside him. Ross seems to be very respectful and looks up to Macbeth a lot. Obviously, Ross admires Macbeth and thinks that he was a hero in the battle that was fought. He thinks that Macbeth is worthy and bestows him the title of thane of Cawdor.
Angus
Angus is the other messenger in the pair. He has very few parts in this section that shows very little of him. He seems to be a very serious and calm person who sees reason through the words. He is very straightforward and states his business as soon as possible. He also states the fact about the thane that might be executed due to his treason.
Major Plot
Three witches have killed a sailor's wife due to insults
Macbeth and Banquo receive their futures which are exact opposites
The witches leave leaving the two confused
Ross and Angus inform Macbeth that he became the thane of Cawdor
Conflict
Many conflicts are foreshadowed by the text. There seems that there will be conflicts as Macbeth will rise to power and king. Banquo might be the opposing side trying to defy fate and overcome the prophesy that the witches foretold.
Assignment 2
- What do we learn about Lady Macbeth in these scenes?
We learn that Lady Macbeth is very pleased with the prophecy and wants everything to come true. She is very passionate about Macbeth becoming King and would manipulate others or even him to become the Queen. (1.5.72) It is pretty obvious she is ambitious and passionate but she is also smart since she knows better than to annoy and insult the king when he passes into their house.- How might Lady Macbeth answer the question “What is the meaning of life?” Explain your answer.
Lady Macbeth would answer that the meaning of life was to reach the title or status in which they have the most power and influence. This can be inferred from her ambition and desire to make Macbeth a King. It wouldn't be surprising if she killed Macbeth to become the most powerful person in the kingdom, the Queen herself.- Identify and write out two of Lady Macbeth’s lines that are particularly striking. Explain why you selected the lines.
"All our service In every point twice done, and then double done, were poor and single business to contend." (1.6.16) This line is interesting since she tries to humble her hospitality towards the king but she wants Macbeth to become king himself making this statement ironic. She tries to please the king while also looking for an opportunity."Only look up clear. To alter favor ever is to fear. Leave all the rest to me." (1.6.72) I chose this line because it is the start of the conspiracy against the king that the Lady plans. She is obviously smart and discreet and advises against changing countenances since it could betray their real purpose and ruin their chance at being king.
- Identify one significant word that Lady Macbeth uses in 1.5 or 1.6, and define both the denotation and connotation of the word. Explain why you think the word is significant.
Masterdom: "Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom" (1.6.70)Denotation: Dominion, rule, command
Connotation: Dark and tyrannical power over another, specially what the Lady wants
Significance: This word is significant since it foreshadows the following conspiracy and also the lust for power that the Lady has.
Assignment 3
Trial Preparation - "Why has Macbeth decided to kill King Duncan by the end of Act 1?"Line 1. 3. 50 The witches tell him that he will be king and so he believes fondly that he will be king and sets his mind on it. When he learns that he might not be the next king and his ambition will fail he decides to take action by himself instead of waiting for fate to do it for him.
Line 1. 5. 41 Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to kill the king by using arguments such as becoming a real man or showing him the power he would have if their ambitions are fulfilled. She forcefully convinces Macbeth that it is the only way and that the only consequences were good.
Line 1.6.61 Lady Macbeth convinces that there is no way that the plan might fail and that it is perfect. She convinces that as long as Macbeth sticks to the plan they will succeed in becoming king.
Assignment 4
- How does Macbeth react to the killing of Duncan? Why does he react this way?
Line 2.2.68 Macbeth feels huge amounts of guilt and excitement. He is sorry for the act and can't wash away the feeling of guilt that he has. Macbeth seems to regret what he has done and is confused since he does not know where to leave the daggers at. Macbeth seems to be sad and regretful.- How does Lady Macbeth react to the killing of Duncan? Why does she react this way?
Line 2.2.34 Lady Macbeth is very neutral about the murder of Duncan. She seems to think that Duncan was just an obstacle in her dream and it was removed. She seems almost happy that Duncan was murdered and does not even think about a conscience or guilt in her mind. Lady Macbeth seems to be happy and neutral which is the opposite of Macbeth.Assignment 5
- Write a one sentence summary of each scene.
3.1: In the first scene, Macbeth asks about Banquo's plans for the afternoon. After he finds out the details about his adventure, he sends out murderers to kill both Banquo and his son, Fleance.3.2: Macbeth and Lady Macbeth talk about the murder of Banquo and his son,Fleance, causing them great concern and guilt.
3.3: The murderers attack and are successful in killing Banquo but they fail in murdering Fleance since he flees before anyone could catch him.
3.4: He has a dinner with noble friends in which he receives news about the murders. He also sees the ghost of Banquo in his seat and he loses his mind. Everyone leaves and Macbeth with Lady Macbeth are in a state of agony.
3.5: The three witches meet Hecate, a goddess who could be called their boss. Hecate if furious about what the witches have done with Macbeth.
3.6: The Lord and Macduff talk about their concerns and voice their doubts about Macbeth.
- In 3.6, what suspicions does the Lord have about Macbeth?
The Lord is suspicious of what Macbeth has done. The Lord is suspicious of criminal activity since Macbeth wants to cut any strains that could make him lose power. Macbeth even thinks about war because Malcolm is in the English court which makes Lord even more suspicious.- What does Macbeth want in this scene?
Macbeth asks the witches and apparitions questions that would answer his desire. What he wants is power and title but since he already has that due to the witches he wants to know what will be his objectives and enemies that could take his power away from him. His greed has already taken over him and wants a list that he has to kill to keep him in power.- What stands in his way?
Macduff is pointed as the person who stands in his way. But then the third apparition states that whoever that is woman born will not harm him and he relaxes. He thinks that he is invincible since everyone is woman born and the prophecy would protect him from any human that tried to harm him.- How does Macbeth attempt overcome the obstacles in his way?
Macbeth attempts to overcome the obstacles as he did before, with murder. He will murder anyone who stands in his way and also whoever he is close to such as family. Macbeth orders to kill Macduff and his family but only manages to kill the wife and children.- What do the Witches want in this scene?
The witches want to cause pain and mischief to Macbeth though he thinks that they are actually helping him. The witches want to cause mischief since Hecate ordered them in fury since the witches helped Macbeth without her consent so as a punishment Macbeth was to be bothered and pained.Assignment 6
How has Macbeth transformed by the end of the play?
Macbeth transforms from a valiant soldier and thane who deserves glory to a tyrant and power hungry murderer who would do anything to keep power until he is crazed and loses all sense of reality. The witches were cunning in manipulating and destroying the life of not only Macbeth but also his wife who becomes disillusioned in the end.
"Hang those that talk of fear. Give me mine armor." (Line 5.3.37)
This quote shows how desperate and extreme Macbeth is to keep his throne and power. He is willing to use soldiers that should be used to repel the English forces to control the people. What he fears is that too many people will talk about fear in his kingdom so that they will revolt and strip him of power. He is willing to let down his defenses to stop that from happening showing that his priorities start with power.
"She should have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word" (Line 5.5.17)
Macbeth finally loses all connection to reality as he seems to take in facts as if he were an outsider and uninvolved in the story. He is too self-centered to grieve for his wife who had just passed away. It does not seem to register in his mind that she had died and he had not been help for her even though she did everything for him in the end. Macbeth seems to have died in his mind before Macduff killed him with his mind. The prophecy was in fact true since he had died in his mind before any woman born person had done him harm.
Assignment 7
- What is the main idea of the story?
The main idea of the story is change and corruption. The "lesson" or theme that the story is telling is of the consequences that come with power or titles such as kings. Macbeth changes over time has he gains more power starting with becoming Thane of Cawdor and then king. As he became king and tries to keep power for himself he slowly turns into a tyrant and a completely different person from the noble thane in the beginning of the story. He is humble and noble in the beginning, "The Thane of Cawdor lives.Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" (Lines 1. 3. 107) but then he uses murder to keep him in power without a second thought, " It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul's flight, if it find heaven, must find out heaven."(Line 3.2.143)- What can we learn from these characters? Select one or two characters and explain your answer.
We can learn that there could be two outcomes out of power and corruption. Obviously Macbeth grew neutral and detached from the world as he became a tyrant and used his influences to keep him in power. "She should have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word" (Line 5.5.17) Another example of what corruption does would be Lady Macbeth. She is the opposite case since she does not grow detached but her guilt overcomes her and she becomes disillusioned. She has open eyes but with no real vision and walks around purposelessly. "What will these hands ne'er be clean?"(Line 5.1.43)- Do you see recurring images, words, deeds, situations, consequences, mistakes? Select two items from the preceding list and give examples from the play.
There are some recurring words and situations that shape the whole story. The recurring words would be blood and hand since these represent the guilt of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth when they have killed another person. They seem to be unable to wash away the blood thus the guilt from the hand and have to live with the constant torment of it. "What will these hands ne'er be clean?"(Line 5.1.43). The situation is directly relevant to the words. After the use of the word there seems to be inevitable another person that flees from Macbeth and joins to have revenge and bring Macbeth down.